Engine-starter.



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ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.

' Patented Jan. 7, 1919;

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ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION man SEPT. IQ. um

1,290,480. Patented Jan. 7,1919.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BERT. E. ARMSTRONG, or, s AToiv, rumors ENGINE-STARTER.

a simply constructed and inexpensive, yet a highly eificient and durable self starting device for automobile and other internal 00-mbustion engines, and to this end, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and unique combinations of parts to be hereinafter fully described andclaimed,

the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specificationand in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention applied; M

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the improved starter with the upper part of the casing removed; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating several parts inhorizontal section; Fig. 4 is practically a duplicate of Fig. 3 with the exception that it illustrates certain parts in elevation, and discloses a difierent position of parts; and,

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 aretransversefsections on the planes indicated by the lines.5.--5, 66 and 77 of Fig. 3. 3

Briefly speaking, the present invention comprises a starting shaft 1, starting and winding drums 2 and 3 respectivelymonnted loosely on said shaft, a spring 1 secured at its ends to said drums, independent brakes 5 and 6 for holding thedrums2 and 3, respectively, normally against rotation, a starting clutch 7 for connecting ]the starting drum 2 with the shaft 1, and a winding clutch 8 for locking the winding drum 6 to said shaft.

The shaft 1 may be of any suitable formation, but as shown, the inner end of said shaft is provided with a socket 9 or other suit- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 7. 1919.

Application filed September 10, 191?. SerialNo. 190,603.

able connection for operatively connecting it with the engine shaft, whereas the outer end of said shaft 1 is by preference squared at 10 for the application of a hand crank in initially winding the spring 4, or in re winding said spring in case it should run down by accident. The drums 2 and 3 are located near the center of the shaft 1 and both of said drums are provided with inwardly extending annular flanges 11 which cooperate therewith in forming a housing for the spring 4;. Both drums are formed with central rectangular openings which slidablybut non-rotatively receive the square hubs 12 of the movable clutch members 13 and "14 of the clutches 7 and 8 respectively, said membersbeing normally spaced from the relatively fixed clutch members 15 and 16, by suitable coiled springs 17 as shown clearly inFig. 3. Asalso illustrated most clearly in this figure, the relatively fixed members 15 and 16 respectively of the clutches 7 and 8, arekeyed to the shaft 1 for rotation bodily therewith. l l

A pair of transverse rock shafts 18 and 19 are interposed respectively between the drum 2 and the clutch member 13 and between drumj3 and clutch member 14:, said shafts having cams 20 for forcing the movable clutch members13 and 14 toward their coacting clutch memberslaand 16 respectively, and also having laterally extending crank arms 20 which normally hold the brake; bands 5* and 6'in contracted position, but'releasesaid bands when the shafts are rocked to throw either clutch into play. ,Any

24 respectively, the re'arends of saidrods being pivoted to suitable foot pedals 25 and 26 mounted on the car, orto hand levers if occasion should so demand. Coiled springs 27 are shown connected to thecrank arms 21 and 22 for normally positioning therock star s t and 19 so that their crank arms 10o preferred means could well be employed 1 are preferably mounted in a rigid frame 28 which may be secured to the chassis of the car 1n any preferred manner, said frame having upper andlower cover plates 29 and 30 which cooperate therewith in forming a housing for all moving parts of the starter, it being intended thatthis housing shall contain oil so that thedevice will operate smoothly and easily. In this connection, it may be stated that stuffing boxes or the like Willbe used wherever a shaft or the like passes through the casing, but since the use of such devices is well known, they have not been illustrated.

The improved starter may beappliedto the machine in anysuitablelmanner, preferably as indicated in Fig.1, and when once installed,- the spring 4: must be initially wound by'applying a crank :to the front end of-the. shaft 10 and turningthis shaft,.

afteryfirst depressing the footpedal 26 to simultaneously releasethe brake band 6 and throw the clutch-8 into play. It will thus be obvious that turning of the shaft 1 will, through the instrumentality of the clutch 8, rotatethe drum 3, -Wl1lle the drum 2 is being 1 held against rotation by its normally applied brake band 5, the result being that the spring 4 is initially wound. When wound to the required extent, the. footpedal 26 is released so that the brake band 6 comes into play to hold the drum 3 against rotation: When now it is desired to crank the motor by the improved starter, the foot pedal-25 is depressed with the result .that the rock shaft 18 is turned to simultaneously release the brake band 5 of drum 2 and apply theclutch-7 of this drum. The resultfis that as the spring unwinds, it rotates the drum 2, and the latter in turn drives the shaft 1 since it is .connected thereto-by the clutch-.7. It will thus be obvious that the engine will be started, and after starting thereof, the spring may again be 'woundto the required extent by depressing the foot pedal 26, whereupon thedevice will be in readiness for again I starting the machine whenever required.

From the foregoing, .taken in connection with .the accompanying drawings, it will be obvious that although my invention is of comparatively simple and'inexpensive nature, it willbe highly eflicient and durable.

Sineeprobably the best-results areobtained from r the specific details, shown 1 and de- .scr beda;suchgde ailsaconstitute;1on6 of the preferred types of the improved starter. It is to be understood, however, that numerous minor changes may well be made without sacrificing the principal advantages. For instance, suitable adjusting means of any well known or adequate type could be employed for either tightening or loosening the brake bands 5 and (3 as occasion may demand, and adjustments may well be provided to take up wear, although the latter will be reduced to a minimum since the moving parts of the device operate in oil or grease within the housing provided.

I claim:

1. In an engine starter, the-combination of a shaft for operative connection with the engine shaft, a pair of drums mounted loosely onsaid shaft, a spring secured at its ends to said drums, independent friction brakes operating on the peripheries of the drums for normally holding said drums against rotation, independent clutches for locking said drums to said shaft, and means for simultaneously releasing the brake for applying the clutch of either drum.

In an engine starter, the combination of a shaft for operative connection with the engine shaft, a pair of drums mounted loosely on said shaft, a spring secured at its endsto said drums, independent brakes for normally holding said drums against rotation, independent clutches for locking said drums to said shafts, a pair of transverse rock shafts extending across said first named shaft, and means on said rock shafts for simultaneously releasing the brake and applying the clutch of either drum.

In an engine starter, the combination of a shaft for operative connection with the engine shaft, a pair of drums mounted loosely on said shaft, a spring between and secured at its ends to said drums, a pair of clutch members fixed on said shaft and spaced outwardly from said drums, a pair of movable clutch members on said shaft connected slidably with said drums and interposed between said drums and said fixed clutch members, transverse rock shafts between said movable clutch members and said drums, independent brakes for normally holding said drums against rotation, and means on said rock shafts for simultaneously releasing the brake of either drum and forcing the-movable clutch member thereof into engagement with its coacting fixed member.

dependent clutches for connecting either In testimony whereof I have hereunto set drum to the shaft, transverse rock shafts my hand in the presence of two subscribing for operatin said clutches, and lateral arms Witnesses.

on said sha ts operatively associated with BERT E. ARMSTRONG. 5 said brake bands for applying the brake Witnesses:

band of either drum when the clutch there- T. R. WRIGHT,

of is disengaged. EARL PARRISH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

